Families come in all shapes and sizes, we say that often, but then we expect a handful of popular games to work with all of them. Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival breaks the mould in both its form and structure, in doing so it caters for a brand new type of audience and introduces them to the world of Animal Crossing.

The game begins with its central board game mechanic. Although this appears similar to Mario (and Wii U) Party, here the experience is substantially different. Rather than a way to join up different mini-games, amiibo Festival's board game instead focuses on a light touch journey where meeting characters, exploring the town and spending time together is central.

There really isn't a lot of skill required here, but that's kind of the point. Using the Animal Crossing amiibo to select a character and then roll the dice makes the experience accessible to players of all ages and abilities —again something we often say but isn't usually true for super young or novice players.

Playing through the board game actually felt like reading a story book together. Each session is built around a particular month that then themes the board with different special days, visitors as well as weather.

Settling down to play after school the family not only have a reason to spend time in the same room, but also end up chatting between goes or discussing which character will appear next or who is their favourite resident.

From here the game builds out a variety of related elements. A range of mini-games can be unlocked and utilise amiibo cards; variety is the name of the game here both in terms of scope and skills to play. This leads to a set of games that again work well with a range of ages.

Desert Island Escape - This is the pick of the bunch in terms of in-depth gaming. It's a one-player challenge (although we played it with three people each looking after a character) where you control a team of three different characters. Each character has different powers based on the amiibo card you use and need to work together to gather materials and get off the island

Acorn Chase - Here you aim to collect the acorns before being caught by Resetti. However, the twist is that you can only control the movement by placing different coloured amiibo cards on the Wii U GamePad. It turns into a challenge of memory, dexterity and fast reactions.

Quiz Show - This one skews older and towards a more gaming crowd. The challenge is to answer questions in an Animal Crossing-themed quiz show. The amiibo cards are used a bit like the buzzer to jump in and answer questions.

Balloon Island - This reminded me a lot of Monkey Target in Monkey Ball. However, it's controlled with amiibo cards rather than buttons. Placing the card on the GamePad controls the descent of your character that must be timed perfectly to land on the score multiplier.

Mystery Campers - If you've played the Mastermind board game you will be familiar with this logic challenge. Here you try and guess which 4 amiibo are hiding in tents by trial and error. The amiibo cards select your set of 6 campers and are then placed on the GamePad in order to register each guess.

Fruit Path - Players compete to beat each other by using the dice symbol on amiibo cards to advance their character, in an experience that's a little similar to Pontoon.

amiibo Card Battle - Here you select six amiibo cards and take turns to draw one each. The aim is to match the different star signs on the cards with that which appear in the crystal ball.

Resetti Bop - This is like "Whack a Mole" but with Animal Crossing characters. You must not only place the amiibo card of the right colour on the GamePad to trigger the corresponding hammer, but also be sure that you will win the Rock-Paper-Scissors challenge on the card you choose.

These different games work well to expand the laid back board game experience while at the same time attending to a wide range of potential players.

The board itself can also be customised as you earn more points. Taking play back in an Animal Crossing vein you can add civic works and move different characters into the village with your amiibo cards.

There will be many who bemoan this as a "dumbed down" experience that's not even a proper video game, never mind an Animal Crossing game. However that is to miss what the title offers a wider audience.

As a game for a wide audience, and a gentle introduction to the depth and characters of Animal Crossing, amibo Festival gets a lot right. Combine this with an amiibo card collection from Happy Home Designer and you have the makings of a great family Christmas and present combo.

I'm going to bypass the bulk of my general criticism for this title (I've spent enough time on that elsewhere), and ask a more constructive question.
How exactly does the "buzzer" mechanic work for the quiz game? There is only one GamePad, and thus only one NFC sensor. So, players are all trying to "buzz in" on one Pad, right? Isn't there a risk of, say, an older sibling shouldering a younger out of the way? Or worse, in an effort to answer, two players, in their struggles to get to the one sensor, knock the GamePad across the room, damaging it.
I'm just trying to wrap my head around how competitive games can work with one controller in a real world setting. Wouldn't, for instance, a Wiimote option have made more sense for the Whack-a-Mole game?

Well, it's an interesting direction Nintendo has taken here. It's a more passive experience, but Animal Crossing has always been an unskilled collecting/social game and there is a type of dedicated "gamer" now that watches Minecraft mod videos and Twitch for more than they actually play.

There's something to this. I think the backlash is against not just this game but that entire trend, maybe. Of course, there is an angst about certain games not making it to the console (that I also have and is one of the reasons I hope NX fixes this and comes quick.) Why couldn't we get an Animal Crossing proper on Wii U first. Right?

And less than 2 hours ago I posted this -partial- comment in this week's Nintendo Download post: "Amiibo Festival is a maybe, I still just don't know what the game is about after watching a dozen of trailers and previews. But we [me and my daughter] would like to collect those cute cards... Do they have a better use in Happy Home Designer?"

Well, still confused, but less so. At least I get a better sense about what the cards do. Not sure how I feel about the board...

I don't know. Still would like to collect the cards. Maybe they'll have more uses later. Most smartphones come with NFC these days and Animal Crossing, and these cards, could be a good option for mobile.

@Yai You have to remember these games are localized from Japanese where such a check isn't necessary. And yet, Nintendo has been in the global market for decades, you'd think they'd keep something like that in mind. I'm sure NoA doesn't have the willpower nor talent to do something like that themselves.

Here's the thing: I don't have a problem with games like this at all—as long as they don't come at the expense of actual, proper, new games in the franchise that everyone really wants.

Do you understand what I'm saying here?

Nintendo's been announcing/releasing a bunch spin-off games recently because it's apparently not making actual, proper, new games in these franchises, or at least that's how it seems—if it is making them, they're not coming anytime soon—and THAT's the problem I have.

Spin-off cash grabs are not what most gamers want, and certainly not if it means they get the spin-off cash grabs instead of the core games they're pining for.

Lately with Nintendo it's often been a case of you either get a crappy spin-off cash grab or a below par new entry in the main franchise. How can anyone but the most loyal fanboys really be happy with that.

@Plainsville yeah its decent, but what we should also be thinking about is that they now have most of a Wii U Animal crossing game already done... can we talk about that... doesn't it make sense... buff up (well add one single game few people care about) the holiday releases with a off shoot of AC while still working on the Main Wii U version, all the while releasing all the amiibo and cards in order to get ready for the main course! we can dream i guess. but its logical

Played this on day one, and I have to say it is a fun and simple game for the family. I've only played 2 board games so far, and have yet to unlock each of the minigames. Nintendo really timed this released perfect for the holiday season as this should be a definite holiday buy for families with a Wii U.

@Kirk - I think it's more of a....we have no 3rd party retail support and 2 platforms that we need to create games for so lets do some smaller easier developed games to help fill out the library type thing. I think if sales were better and there was a more robust library you wouldn't see these games.

I hope what ever NX is...that the next handheld and home console are the same games so they have less to develop for. Even if it is along the lines of PC where NX handheld isnt as powerful so you get X performance from Mario Kart 9 vs the more powerful Y performance from the home console but its the same basic game.

We already have Wii U Party which has a ton of different games and versions to play so I have no interest in picking this up for the family but Im sure there will be a lot of people who will buy this and enjoy it.

@FlashmanHarry@MrGuinea If anybody knows about it. 3 Sunday paper ads - Target 1 tiny pic for Mario Tennis, Best Buy has the exclusive Falco amiibo but no games, Toys R Us 1 tiny photo of AC:aF. That is the extent of marketing for Nintendo's 2 new big holiday games this week. Splatoon and SSB and SMM will make up most of the marketing probably starting next week and AC:aF and Mario Tennis will be forgotten. AC:aF isn't even available to download on the eShop, but Disney Infinity is for $20 and Skyaldnrs Superchagers for $50 and both of those require toys, and portals.

@Captain_Gonru Just an FYI, NL links to FG youtube vids, but nobody ever really replies. Occasionally Andy will pop in, but it's rare. Oh, and I've been trying to work out the "many players - 1 Gamepad" dilemma since SSBU when my kids would each get to pick 1 amiibo to be on their team but 1 would be playing w/ the Gamepad and the other w/ the Pro. Of course back then I thought you could tap the amiibo during gameplay to pop in the character like you do in SKylanders and Disney Infinity mid-battle. That is how it looked at E3 when Reggie fought Iwata, when you get in trouble, tap an amiibo. It's about the 2 minute mark, Iwata has a Gamepad, Reggie doesn't, doesn't seem fair. That's 15 months ago and I still don't get it. They should have made a "new Pro" w/ NFC built in. And Wiimotion Plus for Splaltoon so I don't need to tie 2 controllers together for multiplayer.

I think that's a really good point. MP10 - not Wii U Party but similar - just came out in March of this year. And it was a board game that used amiibo. If parents are looking for a board game this holiday it will probably be Mario. I'm just not sure how big AC is among 5-6 year olds, which seems to be the target audience for this game - old enough to read, but not old enough to be a really good go it alone gamer.

@Captain_Gonru How the buzzer works is that, in multiplayer, there is a spotlight that goes over the contestants and they can ONLY tap their card when it is above them. If they tap the wrong card, they can't answer the question that turn.

Also, not all the minigames in amiibo festival are [competitive] multiplayer. Acorn Chase, Mystery Campers, Resetti Bop, and Desert Island Escape are for one player only.

@arojilla Cards are used mainly for HHD. You scan them in after unlocking the amiibo phone so you can phone in the villager on the card and design their house directly instead of waiting for them for an eternity to appear in the town. Cards are the only way to design houses for special characters like Isabelle too. After building facilities like the school, you can scan an amiibo card inside to assign that villager a role.

@Gerbwmu If they really were concerned about franchise care, they wouldn't be doing games like this as a full retail release. We would be getting more eShop stuff. NES Remix 1 & 2, Wii Sports Club, Pushmo World were all franchise care. This is just shameless Amiibo pushing.

Excite series, Hotel Dusk/Trace Memory, Custom Robo, F-Zero, Advance Wars, and Golden Sun are all sitting there idle. Who would complain if they got 8 new tracks of F-Zero modeled after Mario Kart 8's F-Zero track with online play for $14.99? But instead we get a mini-game collection that requires a huge investment in things that only work for a two games (and a pathetic excuse of a virtual console demo kiosk.

So it's less of a game then Mario Party 10? Yes....okay then, no thanks for me. I really despised Mario Party 10 because it wasn't much of a game. As cool as this game looks graphically, and as cool as the Amiibo look, and as cool as the cards are, I'll be skipping on this game. Now talking my kids into skipping it too will be some work. They both want the game and amiibos at the moment.

"How can anyone but the most loyal fanboys really be happy with that". Oh they will find a way to be. Because its got a Nintendo logo on it. The zealots are one of the more entertaining aspects of this site.

As for the game, it looks like nothing more than a cheaply made, cynical cash in to sell DLC cards and toys.

@Darknyht - eShop releases aren't retail though. I'd love for them to make the games I want and there are a ton of things they could do in the eShop that I would buy but I'm not what these releases are for. They know I will buy the main games but they need some sort of presence in retail to get the holiday sales from people not on NintendoLife.

And it is absolutely about money....no profit for Nintendo means the games I want them to make will never be made again, it isn't excusing 3 party board games in 2 years it just means I understand why and am hopeful that the right type of NX system and some 3rd party support means less mini game collections and off shoots and more New IP's and main stream versions of existing IP's

I had loads of reservations before diving into HHD - and it's one of my favorites of the year now! I'm not feeling the same could happen with Amiibo Fest. I'm the only gamer in my house, and I just don't see a lot of single player love in this one.

Still, how else can I get an Izzy Amiibo? That's pretty lame (and genius) of them...

The desert island escape mode seems interesting, but everything else looks boring to me. I think I'll pass on this title. At least this spin off is closer to the actual source material than Metroid soccer.

@electrolite77
Actually I've had game since Friday, and it's definitely not a cheap cash in and/or shovelware.

The board game is event based with no mini games.
Though it does take you ~1:15 minutes to clear a month if not more.

As for the specific board game details:
-Crazy Redd - he sells out rare cards for 100 bells
-Katie plays high/low card to give you a move card if you win (provided you have no cards)
-Katie will offer to trade you a card if you have a card, can be rare card
-Katrina gives you a tarot card with a dice number on it, can be bad or good card, only works if someone rolls that number. They only last 7 days.

-Phineas gives a reward to who ever the spinner lands on
-Dr. Shrunk makes you spin the spinner, which has 3 move cards and a Dr. Shrunk space. Land on his space and will give you a joke and rare card
-Joan comes to town during the week as a special character, though she rare during the week. Her spaces will do turnip based events, can give you more turnips, take money from you, spoiling all your turnips causing you to lose your investment, and others
-Chip is fishing tourney spaces (the whole board changes), Gold is best, silver is second best, green is worst.
-Nate does bug catching tourney, same thing applies to bug catching and fishing tourneys.
-Your Amiibo character is effected by events with them in it (both good and bad).
-Turnip Market gets trend every Monday, it's either Crashing (Only losses), Fluctuating (widely high and low spaces), Steady (modest profits for all)
-Market can change during the week
-You can only buy Turnips on Sundays
-Rare Turnip Cards (obtainable from special characters) will make the market switch to fluctuating, good for ending a crash.
-All cards have a cost to use
-Players can only hold two cards at any given time.
-Gyroids give you a special stamp which awards Happy Points, more with each new stamp. complete the stamp card (4 stamps), you get full Happy Point bonus.
-Each holiday is an event
-Halloween last all month and you have to collect Candy for Jack, he who collects the most gets the biggest prize from Jack on Halloween.
-Thanksgiving is a Two Day ingredient hunt, by landing on ingredient spaces.
-Collecting ingredients gives you Happy Points.
-Get all the ingredients, Franklin gives everyone a Prize.
-Amiibo players get random Happy Points bonuses for rolling dice
-Ever 100 Happy Points your Amiibo levels up, giving you new outfits and emotions (usable only on board game).
-Villager Smash Amiibo turns the Fountain into a gold Villager statue
-Click the Fountain to name the CPU AI characters (usable in board game only)
-You can customize your Plaza in various ways (i haven't figured it out yet).
-You can import any Animal Crossing character from AC Amiibos and Amiibo Cards.
-They will populate your Plaza and board game.

I enjoy playing the Quiz Show
I don't care for the Balloon Island game.
I haven't played Mystery Camper and Desert Island yet.
I haven't unlocked the rest yet.

This game is only for digital board game fans, Mini game fans, and/or huge Animal Crossing fans.

@Gerbwmu "I think it's more of a....we have no 3rd party retail support and 2 platforms that we need to create games for so lets do some smaller easier developed games to help fill out the library type thing."

Well, that's really exactly what it is.

The issue is that trying to plug the 2nd/3rd party gaps with filler, but not delivering the big 1st party games in particular franchises that people are also expecting (No proper Animal Crossing, no proper Metroid, no F-Zero at all, still waiting on Zelda, new Star Fox look half-*ssed and phoned in...), just isn't what the majority of people want.

@aaronsullivan Question - do you think Wii U will ever get an amiibo game like DI or Skyladners at this point? I know Nitnodo said "no", but that was before Spaltoon required 3 amiibo to unlock challenges in the game, Yoshi yarn amiibo gives you basically 2 player w/ 1 player, and Mario Tennis lets you play 2 v 2 w/ only 2 people. So the amiibo are becoming more entrenched in the games than Captain Toad or Greatest Bits Demo Vault. And their AC board game makes me think they could be making an all encompassing game like AC proper, but w/ all amiibo. My wish for Subspace Emissary 2 is kind of what Toybox Takeover is, all toys in a new story driven game. ($20 to unlock on disc content in a $60 retail game is another story.) But do you think it's still coming at all? I kind of think now if it does happen it's NX, not Wii U. Which would be a shame for the Wii U owners I think waiting for the thing to come.

@KirkThere is plenty of 3rd party support, it's just not AAA and M-rated games.

Also people where very vocal about Nintendo releasing Wildworld and Cityfolk too close together, which resulted in everyone being burned out and ignoring City Folk.

As for Metroid, Nintendo doesn't know how to make it sell and be highly praised.Metroid Prime 1 was controversial because fans of traditional Metroid hated the game, splitting the fan base. Metroid Fusion was hated for being too linear and deviating from tradition. Metroid Prime 2 bombed and everyone complained about it which was reflected in the reviews. Metroid Prime 3 sold less than Prime 1, Everyone complained about it and it was reflected in the reviews. Metroid: Other M was widely mixed and panned by many fans.

There has been a big push to get Nintendo to make an online shooter in the Metroid Universe.

With that Metroid Prime 1 and Metroid (NES) are neck and neck, with both selling less than 5 million worldwide.

For some reason Metroid never sells as well and if Splatoon keep selling at the current rate, it will Metroid Prime 3 (third best selling game) by a decent margin by mid next year.

@Xenocity Metroid Prime sold better because it was better and more fresh. I'm glad they made a trilogy, but I've honestly only finished the first one. It was the only one to suck me in and want to finish it. I think the "fresh" factor is what people love about Metroid, which is why I personally wish Nintendo would shelf the "Prime" series and keep concentrating on evolving proper Metroid.

I'm not interested, but hopefully they're saving the good Animal Crossing for NX.I'm a little disappointed in a few series this gen, like Animal Crossing, 3D mario, and Zelda. But on the whole, Wii U has still been very worthwhile- so oh well, guess I'll be using either the DS, Gamecube, or Wii Animal Crossing until then.

I was in Target today and I coudln't find this game anywhere. No sign of it. There were 6 Mabel and 6 Tom Nook amiibo, but I'm not sure where the game would be. They did have at least 1 box on Friday behind the counter, I guess somebody bought it.

Also, no sign of Mario Tennis which is out in 4 days. I thought Mario would warrant a display sticker or board or poster or something. Since the game doesn't use motion a kiosk demo would be helpful. Or at least a vid of the game. The kiosk has demo's for Yoshi, Spaltoon and Super Mario Maker, so it does get updated occasionally.

Nintendo can put out a Spaltoon SSBU bundle on BF, but it might help to advertise some of the games as well. And before BF after everybody makes up their mind to get another system.

Doesn't matter how good a game might be if nobody owns a Wii U to play it on.

Well as an experienced gamer not much appeals to me here. The desert escape mode sounds very compelling and the gameplay of it looks really fun! Plus the amiibo look great. However, that doesn't justify the $60. As the price decreases I'll look more into it. Being in highschool means i have to choose the games i buy carefully. Even with christmas coming up Yoshis wooly world and games I missed are higher gaming priorities, such as sonic lost world and wonderful 101 and Pikmin 3. For now I'm on the Xenoblade Chronicles X hype train! Choo Choo!

Picked this game up, at first for the amiibo, but we also have some big Animal Crossing fans like my son in our home. I have played the board game with him twice and it's an okay, but were looking forward to trying out the island survival game. The board game offers turnbased play where placing and removing your amiibo rolls the dice. Aside from that you press "A" when done reading text to move on. Every space gives or takes away happy points or bells. Bells can be cashed out for happy points at the end of the game. At times you also are offered turnips to buy and then later sell them off for a net gain or loss in bells. You are also trying to navigate to the four corners of the board to collect traveling stamps. It's a fairly fun casual game, the replayability is in the different months and seasons you play and after the first play through you can select which month you want to play in. A full round constitutes a month. So while this may not be the epic Animal Crossing game for Wii U many had wanted, like the article says it's a great party game for fans and non-gamers alike. It's a good way of getting mom, grandma or any other non-gamer in your home to play a game that could leave them wanting more Animal Crossing.

I did notice your disappointed comment a few after mine on one of the ND threads. I guess I wasn't disappointed b/c we got so many dates and the ND went pretty much as I expected. The only thing that disappointed me was no price cut, but as it turns out they did cut the price to $279, which isn't much, but SSBU and Splatoon are better than MK8, so it's a deal. They just didn't put this sentence in the ND for some reason.

It did certainly feel like there was very little new for Wii U next year. but at the same time the ND was focused over the next 6 moths. They didn't cover SMTxFE or Mario and Sonic at the Rio Summer Olympics 2016. It's also possible Zelda U could be the end of May game, and Super Mario Galaxy 3 and Paper Mario the holiday games, which they wouldn't announce until E3. But if I were betting I do agree w/ you, NX announced in late Feb or early march for a holiday release w/ games shown at E3.

And you don't need any more Wii U games or an NX anyway, you just got a PS4, you're good for the next 3 years at least. Next year is my turn. NX can wait, whatever it is.

@electrolite77"How can anyone but the most loyal fanboys really be happy with that". Oh they will find a way to be. Because its got a Nintendo logo on it. The zealots are one of the more entertaining aspects of this site.As for the game, it looks like nothing more than a cheaply made, cynical cash in to sell DLC cards and toys."

I think the game is a complete and utter waste of a release slot. However, I am not going to insult and condescendingly judge other gamers who might be interested in such a game just because it doesn't appeal to my taste.

In case you haven't noticed, a lot of people in this comment section who are interested are not "zealots finding a reason to be happy with it". They seem like family men who enjoy playing games with their sons and/or daughters. If that's still allowed of course. And then also means that their children are interested in it, who are also not "zealots".

Finally, and this may be the minority category, but some people just like these kinds of games.

Is it for me? No, it's not. It's a joke of a game, imo. But even so I don't believe that makes it right to categorize and label every individual who feels otherwise as a fanboy zealot looking to defend the game.

As a non animal crossing fan due to the time sink, I've bought two animal crossing games. So while I can understand why mainline fans are mad...the spin offs which I doubt will hamper any future mainline games have brought new people into the series

Seems like a lot of mixed views upon this game. I for one LOVE animal crossing and logged in 750+ hours into NewLeaf, and more in the past 4 games. I'll be getting this asite a present. Really can't wait for the amiibo as well they look really cool. Now what I will be upset is this game required 3D Wii U HD models of Animal Crossing. Why would they do so much to make this a game and not the Main Stream series? AC engine is now on wii u! I suspect a wii u AC by 2016

We purchased this plus the amiibo yesterday for what it is I would give it a 8.5 out of 10 score , we are having more fun playing this than we did playing Mario Party 10 and those AC amiibo are just adorable .

I had reservations about the game when we got it, I didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. It's not very involved but it is fun. The stalk market is what keeps it interesting during the board game part. I don't have any kids, just play with my husband and our friends and we all enjoy it. It's a fun game to relax with and trash talk each other.

@Kirk - Man, for about as long as I've been coming to this site and posting in the comments, all I see is cynicism and negativity from you.

Maybe you actually do like something Nintendo had made or done in the last few years, and maybe you have made a post that wasn't dismissive or outright hostile, but I sure haven't seen it.

Anyway, my point is: It's obvious Nintendo does not offer the games, products, and experiences that you're looking for and that's fine...but do you think maybe you're just wallowing in negativity and looking for attention at this point?

I don't think Nintendo is going to change drastically tomorrow or next week, maybe you should take a break from cynical Nintendo criticism, focus on games and platforms that interest you for a while, and maybe check back every few months and see if Nintendo is actually making games and products that interest you again.

It's not about being a "fanboy" and praising everything Nintendo does, I think that's silly too. However, isn't there a point where you let it go and move on with your life?

This is a site where I've actually seen people post things like "I'll buy it no matter what" in relation to NX. That is zealotry. Pokemon Shuffle, not releasing the new 3DS in the States, their restrictive Account System, Triforce Heroes, Federation Force, this years E3, hiding content behind £11 toy purchases, they all get defended. The lack of third-party support is everybody's fault but Nintendo, the E3 showing of SF0 looked great, anything Nintendo says can be taken as gospel because it always comes to pass. I've seen it all.

People are entitled to defend their chosen profit-driven multinational corporation* with dead-eyed, unthinking zeal. I'm entitled to criticise that.

So this family game costs £40 to start with but that's only for 2 players, is that right? Do you need an amiibo per player? If so then you have to buy 2 more plus presumably some cards too making it a £70 (or more in the likely event you don't want the bundled characters) game that's not really a game. Yet here are many people myself included who just want a real Animal Crossing game and surely some aspect of this could have been incorporated if that's what they wanted. Why does it need to be a stand alone game?

Amiibo is something that is putting me off Nintendo, I get there purpose as a money making scam the same as skylanders and that Disney nonsense. Nintendo are even going down the line of bundling less popular characters with the game to increase sales, a trick Disney did with the recent Star Wars.

Now though with Nintendo they are creeping into games they have no right to be in, Splatoon locks challenges and costumes behind them and now we know both Twilight Princess and Zelda Wii U/NX use them just not in what capacity yet, but there is a much bigger potential for locking content in these types of games.

Im buying an NX day one. No matter what. Just like I bought PS4, 3DS, Wii U, Wii, PS3 and Vita day one. I love video games and I already know beforehand I want to play whatever games are made. I don't care why the system is. I don't care. Because I'm a fan of the games and that's all that matters. Is that actual zealotry? Hold that thought...

I don't see anyone here defending any corporations. Just some moms and dads talking about playing games with their children, and the occasional member who just likes party games. Surely your insatiatable thirst for blood hasn't become so great as to blind you from distinguishing the two apart?

*** EDIT
Just to be clear- some things do deserve criticizing. Others do actually deserve defending. Yes there will be people who defend everything no matter what. Just like there will be people who attack and complain about everything nomatter what. Both categories are just as much zealots as the other. But where's the rational approach? Where's the "I don't like this game but will respect those who do" approach? And the "I do like this game but will respect those who don't" approach? I really wish this community could get back to that.

@Action51 You do understand that was just a lot of wasted breath there, right?

If you don't like what I say, and you're too gentle a soul to be able to cope with it, then maybe it's you who should move on. Why torture yourself by coming to place and a reading my comments, which are here to stay, if it really upsets you so? You have other options you know.

I can, however, bear all Nintendo's crap, despite there's being a LOT of it—and I voice my frustration about it on a Nintendo specific site (created for the purpose of reading and and discussing all things Nintendo) when I feel it's warranted, nothing more and nothing less—so I think I'll stay.

If I think Nintendo has done something genuinely good, I will say so, but these days I feel the bad often outweighs or negates the good in the bigger picture, and the fact that most of the bad stuff isn't really getting fixed either, just makes it even more frustrating and necessary to point out, imo.

@Xenocity
"There is plenty 3rd party support, just not AAA and M-rated games"

Eh, I gotta disagree there bud. There's squat for 3rd party support on Wii U. I think once you take a look at what's out there you'll get a better sense of what I mean. Like 10-15 retail games a month releasing on competitors platforms.

Wii U does get some decent indie support, and games like FAST Racing Neo put some retail games to shame, but that's a rare exception rather than the rule. As a multi-console owner, it's easy for me to compare and contrast. Don't get me wrong, I very much enjoy my Wii U, despite the lack of 3rd party (doesn't matter to me- I only buy multiplats on PS4, my Wii U and X1 are for exclusives and backward compatible titles only). But I think if you just take a look at any preorder section online for Wii U you'll see what people are talking about.

Like I said, I don't much care one way or the other. I only really play exclusives anyways on Wii U (as much as I enjoy gamepad, PS4 is my preferred 3rd party console). But I do think it's a bit of a lost cause to argue Wii U still has 3rd party support. They were doing great for a while, no doubt, but the complete lack of 3rd party releases these past 2 years have really taken their toll.

EDIT*** I would also point out that the reason Wii U lost all 3rd party support is because people refused to buy the games. So anyone complaining about a lack thereof who didn't vote with their wallets when they had the chance is being hypocritical. I bought every single multiplat that came to the system, to show my support in the hopes of more coming. But you can't expect 3rd parties to port great games when they can't sell more than 10-100k copies. I wish more people would have supported 3rd parties when they had the chance.

@kirk"Nintendo's been announcing/releasing a bunch spin-off games recently because it's apparently not making actual, proper, new games in these franchises, or at least that's how it seems—if it is making them, they're not coming anytime soon—and THAT's the problem I have."

I'm pretty sure they've transitioned development to NX. If you look at things through that lens it starts making more sense. Supporting 2 platforms is a full time task, but to do so while also developing for the next generation is near impossible (for any developer I think). I don't mind so much knowing that's the gotta be the reason.

I think it's a perfectly viable excuse for making the prediction I made and I stand by it. There are fanboys, zealots, call them what you will, who defend everything Nintendo do. I didn't aim it at or pick on one poster for liking this game but it was a general comment. I was not 'ripping on' any individual poster and I certainly wasn't displaying an 'insatiable thirst for blood' as you so melodramatically put it.

I agree there are also zealots who blindly criticise everything. It's why, when exercising rationality, I find myself in the odd position of criticising a lot of what Nintendo are currently doing yet defending them on multi-format sites (e.g. mocking a poster yesterday who compared Starfox Zero to an Xbox game even though I don't think it looks great or almost cheerleading for the excellent looking (IMO) XCX).

I sometimes like to poke zealots with a stick. I sometimes like to fact check people. They're often one and the same. This is light relief compared to some of the other online places I engage in such activities but I believe organisations perform better when they are held to Account. What's the point in working hard for customers money or e.g. peoples votes when they'll get handed over for free? I understand that ultimately people can spend their money or vote however they wish and I certainly don't see myself as King Canute holding back the tide but I will express my opinions because it's fun.

Without being disrespectful to he reviewer, it seems that Nintendolife are often making excuses for Nintendo games. Pretty much every site I have seen has said this is an incredibly boring game that has a couple of fun distractions in the mini games that last minutes rather than hours. Everyone to their own, but it seems all too common to see a games glaring flaws and say that it is this that makes it great for small kids and families. 'It's not hugely limited.....its simple'. Games can be amazing and also do that. The old 'New Super Mario Bros' games had a great Game and then 20 fun mini games attached. It seems people are really looking for a reason to like Nintendo games at present because it is Nintendo and there are so few games to choose from. Simply put their content of late has been really poor, and lackluster when compared to their past endeavors. These kinda of releases would never have passed for good quality 10 years ago. Or if this game was released by a third party without animal crossing attached. This is all coming from a big life long fan. To use a cliche, I am not angry just disappointed. I appreciate the reviewer is coming from a family perspective, I have seen his channel and he does good work on that regard. I just think recently the bar has been lowered a lot in terms of what is acceptable.

Also...People who say there is 3rd party support for the Wii U are using some rather rosey glasses. 3DS....sure, it sells really well so has good support, especially from Japanese developers. There is also a lot more scope with the portable experience. But the WII U to my knowledge has 5 retail games coming out next year, 2 Zeldas Mario Sonic Rio Olympics and Star Fox and Poken. All Nintendo or coop projects. This holiday the system has the toys to life series which are regarded as lesser ports of next gen versions, guitar hero live and just dance. I may have forgotten a couple of games but it is simple not viable for for 3rd parties to release on these consoles. And why would anyone with an X1 or PS4 buy a game like Guitar hero on the WII U over PS4. If the base investment of the Guitar etc is supposed to last multiple years, why but it on a console that will be replaced within a year. It is clear all support is now on the NX which is great for that system, but I wish Nintendo had learned more from what happened at this stage in the Wii's life cycle.

@3dsgeek333@arojilla You can also use the amiibo cards to store any furniture (including wallpaper, carpet, rug, wall items and ceiling items (like the 7 eleven light)) that is in the main room of a house onto the card itself. Then you can lend the card to a friend and they will have early access to all those items (they won't have to wait to unlock it themselves).

If I can get this game during a holiday sale or christmas gift, I will. It's not that I think it's overpriced (34.01 for the game, 25.98 for 2 amiibo) it's just that there is too many games to get around this time that you have to manage your budget and time right.

I'm the only one in my immediate family and friend circle that have gaming skills and knowledge, so the only way I can get them to play anything together with me without it being one sided is with a game like this.

@andyrob_24_7 Thank you for writing this! I got the game on release day and while it's certainly a different experience my family and I have all been really enjoying it. I was surprised by the variety of content in the game and how many of the modes keep us coming back. Glad to hear at least one positive opinion on the game amidst the hyper-negative reviews starting to come out